DeWitt Dental Blog

Premier Dentistry for Denver, Cherry Creek & Englewood, CO

Tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a common stress response. It is also something that often occurs during sleep – a factor that can allow teeth grinding to go unnoticed until damage has already been done.

During your routine cleaning and examinations, our highly trained hygienists and Denver dentists will look for signs of bruxism such as uneven tooth wear or surface trauma. You can assist us in detecting these signs by informing us if you are experiencing symptoms of tooth grinding as well. These can include:

Frequent morning headaches

Pain or swelling in the jaw joint

Jaw stiffness or lockjaw

Loose teeth

These symptoms may indicate nocturnal teeth grinding and should not be ignored.

Left unaddressed, bruxism can result in chronic pain, limited ability to bite and chew, significant tooth damage, and even tooth loss – all of which is entirely avoidable when tooth grinding is caught and treated early on.

Am I a Tooth Grinder?

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you may be a tooth grinder. If you struggle with anxiety or have difficulties dealing with life’s stressors, you may be a tooth grinder. If you notice your jaw is clenched at various points throughout the day, you may be a tooth grinder. If you even suspect this is the case, a call to our Cherry Creek dental office for a complete examination is essential for the preservation of your smile.

Not everyone knows if they grind their teeth. This is just one reason it is important to maintain biannual visits with our dentists for thorough examinations. If we discover indications of tooth grinding, we can provide safe and effective treatments that both protect teeth from future damage and restore teeth that have already been impacted by your habit.

Teeth Grinding Treatment

To help prevent future damage from bruxism, we typically suggest a customized mouth guard. Worn while sleeping, these custom-fitted orthotics rest comfortably in the mouth where they provide a buffer between the teeth. While these mouth guards do not prevent the clenching of the jaw, they do prevent that clenching from chipping, cracking, breaking, and wearing down the teeth.

We may also recommend stress reduction techniques, reduced late-day caffeine intake, and other behavioral changes that can help prevent the clenching of the jaw itself. These simple changes can complement the tooth protection offered by your mouth guard and help and provide a lasting solution for your teeth grinding.

Teeth that have already been damaged through grinding can be restored with same day dental crowns. Designed, shaped, shaded, and crafted for your unique smile during a single office visit, CEREC crowns are durable, attractive, and effective at protecting teeth that have been damaged through bruxism.

The high-quality ceramics from which these “crowns in a day” are milled look and feel like natural tooth enamel, making your restorations unobtrusive and allowing them to seamlessly match surrounding teeth. During your initial consultation with one of our experienced dentists, we will discuss tooth grinding prevention and available treatment options to help you find the solutions ideally suited to your needs.

Like charcoal teeth whitening, using strawberries to brighten your smile has been touted as a miracle at-home treatment by some holistic bloggers and websites. According to these sources, mixing baking soda with crushed strawberries and brushing with the mixture can remove surface stains and help whiten teeth. And this is not entirely false.

Indeed, research conducted at the University of Iowa found that this mixture was capable of removing surface debris from teeth. Unfortunately, due to the high concentration of both citric and malic acid in strawberries, this mixture reduced surface hardness on subjects’ teeth by 10%. Not only can this lead to tooth sensitivity, it can allow dentin – the yellowish, calcified tissue just below your enamel – to show through, further yellowing teeth.

The takeaway? Strawberries have the same tooth whitening properties as most over the counter toothpaste. Their acid content aids in the removal of surface debris and plaque, but it also impacts enamel strength and offers nothing to counter this negative impact. Therefore, as with charcoal teeth whitening, brightening your smile with strawberries is not recommended. In fact, it is discouraged by most dental professionals.

If you are looking for a safe and effective tooth whitening option in Cherry Creek or surrounding areas of Colorado, DeWitt Dental Associates can help. Our experienced cosmetic dentists can determine the cause of your tooth discoloration and the types of staining present to personalize your tooth whitening treatment for optimal results – without reducing enamel hardness and increasing risks of tooth sensitivity.

We offer in-office whitening with Zoom! and take-home kits by Opalescence®, giving you an opportunity to improve the shade of your teeth in the manner and amount of time you find most appealing. What’s more, because teeth whitening at DeWitt Dental Associates is done under the supervision of an experienced and highly trained cosmetic dentist, you can rest assured that your comfort, safety, and satisfaction are held as top priorities.

Porcelain veneers are resistant to staining, but cannot be whitened once they have discolored. This makes taking care of your veneers absolutely essential for their continued beauty. Unlike natural tooth enamel that can be lightened with topical bleaches, veneers do not respond to tooth whitening treatments. However, you can reduce prematurely staining your restorations by:

When you brush, be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and nonabrasive toothpaste to protect your veneers from damage. Proper care instructions and advice on how to prolong the life expectancy of your porcelain veneers will be covered by our dentists during your time in our care.

Tooth Whitening

Porcelain veneers cannot be whitened with topical teeth whitening solutions. However, surrounding natural teeth can be – and these often benefit from biannual or yearly whitening to ensure color consistency with adjacent restorations.

We offer a range of tooth whitening options at our Cherry Creek office including in-office whitening during a single office visit. If you are considering tooth whitening in Denver, we would be honored to meet with you and discuss these options and to help you learn which would best produce the look you desire.

Chipped teeth may not seem like a big deal, especially if they aren’t causing any pain. However, even a small chip in the enamel of your teeth can increase risks for tooth decay and infection.

Tooth infection may produce symptoms including increased tooth sensitivity and persistent bad breath. An infected tooth may also allow bacteria to spread into the gums and throughout the body, increasing risks for additional oral and systemic health problems.

While not all chipped teeth will lead to infection, the possibility exists, making it a good idea to call our Cherry Creek cosmetic dentists at 303-566-4036 to schedule a consultation as soon as a chip occurs.

Dental Bonding

One of the most common fixes for a chipped tooth is dental bonding. Applied in layers to the surface of the tooth, bonding can be built up, colored, and shaped to restore the appearance of the tooth. Dental bonding prevents bacteria from entering the tooth, acting as a shield against food particles as well.

This solution is not as long lasting as other chipped tooth treatments and may require somewhat frequent reapplication.

Benefits offered by dental bonding include:

Swift results

Customized shading

Minimal tooth preparation

Porcelain Veneers

If your chipped tooth is a canine or incisor, porcelain veneers may be the most effective option. Incredibly durable and beautifully crafted, porcelain veneers are placed over the front of chipped teeth to improve appearance and help prevent infection.

The process for placing veneers typically takes three to four weeks, but results can last for ten years or more.

Benefits offered by porcelain veneers include:

Long lasting results

Full restoration of appearance

The ability to fix multiple problems at once

Dental Crowns

When a bicuspid or molar is chipped, a dental crown may be the most effective treatment. We offer same day dental crowns at our Cherry Creek office, allowing us to restore complete strength and function in a single office visit. What’s more, these crowns are created to look and feel just like your natural teeth – and shaded to fit seamlessly into your smile.

Benefits offered by same day dental crowns include:

Single visit solution

Complete functional restoration

Lasting protection against subsequent damage

Choosing What’s Best for You

There are several options when it comes to fixing chipped teeth, but not each will be ideally suited for every patient. When you come to our office for a restorative treatment, we will carefully evaluate your smile and discuss all of your options, helping you find the solution that meets your desires, your needs, and your budget.

We take great care to provide individualized solutions for our patients and look forward to learning how we can help protect and perfect your smile.

If you live in the Metro Denver area and are living with chipped, cracked, or broken teeth, please call DeWitt Dental Associates at 303-566-4036 to schedule a consultation today. We welcome patients from Littleton, Englewood, Highlands Ranch, Aurora, Arvada, and all surrounding areas.

Porcelain veneers offer a remarkable solution for the treatment of cosmetic dental problems such as chipped or cracked teeth, gaps in between teeth, irregular tooth shapes and sizes, and severe staining. One of the most commonly performed cosmetic dentistry procedures, the placement of porcelain veneers requires minor tooth preparation – leading some to question their safety. This is entirely unnecessary.

Porcelain veneers are a safe and effective way to perfect your smile. Placed over the front of teeth impacted by cosmetic malocclusion and aesthetic imperfections, porcelain veneers offer a durable, nontoxic, and relatively fast treatment option for men and women looking to improve the appearance of their teeth. If you have questions about the safety or effectiveness of porcelain veneers, please give us a call at 303-566-4036 to schedule a consultation with one of our Denver cosmetic dentists and learn if this option is ideal for your needs.

While porcelain veneers are safe for most patients, they are not right for those with underlying oral health problems such as gum disease or serious tooth infection. If you have an existing oral health condition, our Denver cosmetic dentists can provide you with targeted treatments that address the problem and improve your candidacy for porcelain veneers. During your initial consultation, we will carefully examine your teeth and gums to determine if preexisting issues need to be addressed – and will discuss with you all cosmetic and general dentistry services that will be suitable for your smile now and in the future.

Porcelain veneers are safe, but they are not right for everyone. To learn if they are right for you, call DeWitt Dental Associates at 303-566-4036 and schedule a consultation today. Located on East 1st Ave. in Denver, we welcome patients from Cherry Creek, Englewood, Highlands Ranch, and all surrounding areas.

Porcelain veneers and Lumineers® are designed to address the same cosmetic dental problems. Issues such as chipped or cracked teeth, cosmetic gaps and spaces, uneven tooth sizes, and crooked tooth presentation can be fixed with either option. However, there are some distinct differences that may make one solution better suited than the other for individual patients.

If you are unhappy with your smile and are looking for an ideal solution, the Denver cosmetic dentists at DeWitt Dental Associates can help. Call us at 303-566-4036 to schedule a consultation today.

A Difference in Thickness

Lumineers are thinner than traditional porcelain veneers. This can be beneficial for men and women with less pronounced imperfections as it allows Lumineers to be placed without any significant tooth preparation. Lumineers are, as such, an entirely reversible treatment.

Porcelain veneers require the removal of some natural enamel for seamless placement. Because enamel is removed prior to placing them, veneers are irreversible. However, traditional veneers are incredibly strong and long-lasting, and can be replaced one at a time, as needed, by our Denver cosmetic dentists.

Both porcelain veneers and Lumineers offer remarkable benefits for good candidates. The best way to learn if one of these solutions would be of benefit to you is through a one-on-one consultation at our comfortable and inviting Cherry Creek area office. Please contact DeWitt Dental Associates to schedule your consultation today.

Located in Denver, DeWitt Dental Associates is a full-service general, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry office. We welcome patients from Cherry Creek, Highlands Ranch, Englewood, and all surrounding Metro and I-25 Corridor communities.

Gum recession occurs when gum tissue begins to shrink or pull away from the roots of teeth. Visible tooth roots are one of the main indications of gum recession, but increased tooth sensitivity is often a sign as well. If you are experiencing gum recession, call 303-566-4036 to schedule a consultation at our Cherry Creek office right away.

Some amount of gum recession can be caused by aging. If you have a genetic predisposition to gum recession, this may be more pronounced, particularly if you have engaged in activities that exacerbate a loss of gum tissue. These include:

Once gum recession begins, existing damage cannot be reversed. You can, however, halt its progression by switching to a soft-bristled toothbrush, making sure you brush after every meal and snack, flossing twice daily, and visiting our office every six months for professional cleanings. If gum recession is present, we can discuss treatment options during these visits to protect your teeth and help prevent sensitivity and pain.

Gum Recession Treatments

Gum recession cannot be reversed, but current damage can be addressed through both general and cosmetic dentistry services. Most commonly tooth roots are simply covered with dental bonding, providing a protective layer while restoring a consistent shade to the tooth. If gum recession is excessive, grafting procedures may be needed to fully restore contour to the gum line. Which option is right for your needs is something best determined during your gum recession treatment consultation at our comfortable and welcoming office.

If you are dealing with gum recession in the Metro Denver area, please contact DeWitt Dental Associates to schedule a treatment consultation today. We welcome patients from Englewood, Cherry Creek, Highlands Ranch, and surrounding areas.

Dental crowns used to take weeks to place. First there was the initial visit. Then there was a visit for tooth preparation and the creation of a wax mockup. Then there was a third visit for the placement of the crowns – milled off-site by a company that has never seen your actual smile – and the hope that they are shaped, sized, and colored correctly, lest there be a fourth trip for modified crowns.

This process is not only inconvenient, it can leave vulnerable teeth unprotected for weeks at a time and is ultimately not great for the patient. But if you need a dental crown, what option do you have?

Crowns in a Day

At the Denver office of DeWitt Dental Associates, we are happy to offer same day dental crowns. Milled to our exact specifications while you wait, our one-day dental crowns are shaded and shaped to fit perfectly into your smile during a single office visit. This saves you time and money without compromising quality or aesthetics, making the process ideal for the treatment of teeth that have been:

Weakened by a root canal

Impacted by trauma or severe decay

Worn down by grinding

Our same day dental crowns are created with advanced CEREC technology – an advancement in dental restorations that uses computer imaging to design the perfect crown for each need. Your dental crowns will be precisely sculpted using a diamond cutting technique, allowing them to fit seamlessly into your smile. And studies have shown that, even after nine years of use, nearly 100% of patients with CEREC dental crowns continue to be satisfied.

Fast and convenient, attractive and long-lasting, the advantages offered by one-day dental crowns is clear. If you are in need of a restoration and don’t want to wait several weeks or make multiple trips to the dentist, please contact us online or by calling 303-566-4036 to schedule an appointment today. DeWitt Dental Associates is conveniently located near the Cherry Creek Mall. We welcome patients from all Metro Denver communities.

Porcelain veneers are one of the most versatile and effective cosmetic dentistry treatments. At DeWitt Dental Associates, our Cherry Creek cosmetic dentists use porcelain veneers to treat a number of aesthetic imperfections including:

Porcelain veneers can be shaped and colored to fit seamlessly into your smile. Placed on just a single tooth or on multiple teeth, veneers can perfect even pronounced cosmetic concerns, restoring a beautiful and confident smile you’ll be proud to show the world.

A fast process, porcelain veneers can perfect your smile over the course of just a few visits to our Cherry Creek dental office, allowing you to enjoy a brilliant smile without several time-consuming visits. What’s more, after placement, veneers do not require any special care. Simply brushing, flossing, and visiting our office for checkups is often enough to keep veneers bright and beautiful for several years.

Porcelain is naturally stain-resistant and reflects light just like your natural tooth enamel. This gives veneers the dual benefit of remaining white while still looking completely natural. It may be necessary to occasionally whiten adjacent teeth, but properly cared for veneers should retain their brilliance for several years.

In addition to being durable, easy to care for, and resistant to staining, porcelain veneers are able to address several cosmetic imperfections at once and can, in some cases, be used as a stand-alone option for a complete smile makeover. During your initial consultation with one of our experienced cosmetic dentists, we can discuss your particular concerns and help you determine if porcelain veneers are the best fit for your needs.

When was the last time you visited the dentist? If it was more than six months ago, it’s time to call our Denver office at 303-566-4036 to schedule your next visit with one of our experienced general and cosmetic dentists. Biannual cleanings are essential for removing tartar and plaque from in between teeth and below the gum line – helping prevent issues like gum disease, tooth decay, and infection. What’s more, routine cleanings and examinations remove surface stains to help keep your teeth bright and attractive, while allowing our dentists to detect early signs of oral health problems. Detected early on, minor issues such as gingivitis or cavities can be quickly treated – long before they become major problems. If oral health concerns become apparent during your visit, Dr. DeWitt or Dr. Scott will discuss treatment options and timelines to make sure you are able to make the best decisions for your smile.

In addition to visiting our Denver dentists every six months, daily care plays a significant role in your lasting oral health. Every day should include brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush after each major meal and flossing at least once. Adding an oral rinse can be beneficial as well, but people with certain restorations need to exercise some caution here. Alcohol and other astringents can loosen dental cements and allow crowns, veneers, and similar cosmetic dentistry restorations to fall out.

When you come to our office for your next biannual cleaning and examination, we can discuss your daily routine and provide you with personalize recommendations for its optimization. Please contact DeWitt Dental Associates today to schedule your next appointment and learn how we can help you reach peak oral health. Our Denver dentists proudly serve the entire Metro area including Cherry Creek, Englewood, and Highlands Ranch.

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Cosmetic dentist Dr. DeWitt has posted this website about cosmetic dentistry treatments for informational purposes only. The content within these pages should not be perceived as formal dental advice, nor does the understanding constitute a formal relationship with Dr. DeWitt. Contact our office to schedule a consultation for formal advice. We are happy to assist patients in Denver, Cherry Creek, and surrounding areas.